Hi everyone! It’s Sharlene from S.O. Sew Dressmaking here and this is my first sewing blog post for Good Fabric. When Polina asked if I wanted to write a sewing blog for her it was an easy decision, she stocks a beautiful range of sustainable fabrics that are good for both the earth and the people in it. I loved the concept of stocking only ‘good fabric’. All fabrics have an eco section on the website describing the qualities that make them sustainable. The added bonus is that there are some real beauties on her website that are so hard to resist.
For this sewing blog, I decided to work with the Merchant and Mills 185gsm Linen in Nutmeg. I haven’t worked with any Merchant and Mills fabrics before but have long admired them, and thought this colour would make the perfect all year round jumpsuit. I chose the Alexa jumpsuit by Tilly and the Buttons for this project as I have wanted to make it in a plain fabric and know that I have the fit perfected. This time I added the front breast pockets and left out the shoulder tabs.
The biggest change for me when making this piece was that I didn’t pre-wash my fabric! This is a big no-no from me usually, but the Merchant and Mills Linen is all pre laundered at the linen mill, giving it a beautiful soft finish. Compared to normal 100% linen fabrics which can be a bit rough I could have happily wrapped myself up in this and had a nap!
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The fabric was wonderful to work with and posed no issues. I finished all the seams with my overlocker as it would fray quite a bit. I think if I were to use this fabric for a casual dress or trousers I would leave the edges to fray as it would add a lovely feature.
I can’t tell you how happy I was when I discovered the perfect buttons in my stash. I purchased a mixed pack of gold coloured buttons when I was at the Knitting and Stitching Show back in November and I am always looking for an excuse to use them. The cream and tan colour on these match the fabric perfectly, and I had 6 in my stash, the exact number I needed!
I made a few small changes to the pattern. I stitched the facing down with topstitching, a feature used on the Helens’ Closet Gilbert top I recently made. Once I had stitched around the pockets in a lighter thread I knew this would add a nice detail to the neckline and button placket too.
This pattern does not include pockets, although suggests that you can add inseam pockets if you want. I decided while I was making it that I didn’t want to add normal inseam pockets as I had done before. I used the pockets from another pattern (the Jazz pattern by Ready to Sew) and traced these on. I would describe these as a slash pocket. It is a very easy method of changing the features of a garment. Keep an eye out for my YouTube video on how to do this.
I am so happy with the outcome of this garment. It is perfect for cooler summer days and I can also see it taking me right through to Autumn when it is layered up. I would love to use this fabric to make a jacket, the Friday Pattern Company Ilford jacket springs to mind as a casual ‘shacket’ or maybe a lightweight blazer like the Homer & Howell’s Blair blazer. I am also feeling very tempted by the Soapy Cove colour in this fabric to make a pair of trousers, or maybe even some luxurious PJ’s.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this sewing blog. Keep an eye out for my next one about the Lenaline Patterns Ambre blouse in a beautiful pinstripe tencel.
Happy sewing
Sharlene xx
